Don't Touch That Dial

Netflix, Google, Apple, and Intel think they can remake the industry, but there's a lot of money and brain-power standing in their way.

Netflix is having a good summer. The Internet streaming service garnered 14 Emmy nominations last month, including a Best Actor nod for House of Cards star Kevin Spacey. Four days later, the company announced that U.S. subscribers to its video-streaming service hit 30 million.

Netflix shares (ticker: NFLX) are up 170% on the year, making them the best performer in the S&P 500. But it's the future of TV that investors are really excited about, and Netflix is not shy about putting itself in the center, declaring on its...